I couldn't stop myself... Gun auction.

[std7mag]

My daughters boyfriend wanted me to go to a gun auction with him today.
Took $100 with me for JIC money. Not planning on buying any firearms, but they usually have scopes, gun cases, and reloading items at these things.
So how did i make out, you ask?
Got a nice lockable gun case, with 2 keys for $13.
Bought box of misc stuff for $5, i saw 2 soft cases in the box.
And....
An as yet unknown "German"Mauser that was half heartedly sporterized in 8X57 for $65. I was the only bid..

I know, i'm a glutten for punishment at the hands of my wife!

Will post more info on the Mauser, once i look it over better.

[big al hunter]

I know, i'm a glutten for punishment at the hands of my wife!

I think I would start that conversation with "Honey, look what I got for less than $100...I can't believe they let it go for such a low price!!"

probably wouldn't work with my wife either, but ya gotta start somewhere.

What's your plan? Finish the sporterizing, or use it as is and see what it does, or new barrel/cartridge? Or something I haven't thought of yet?

[NHSHOOTER]

In today's economy whats a hundred bucks..Walkin around money..Good job I say!!!

[std7mag]

Well, first off, i know the 8X57 to be an excellent cartridge.
But as the name implies, i'm a fan of 7mm.
Perhaps a barrel swap to 7X57. I don't have one of those yet.
Always 284 Win.
Or maybe a 25-284...
Maybe a 35X57...

So many options...

Although the first thing to do is identify which Mauser it is.

[ThomasT]

If the bore is good I would leave it 8x57. Its one of my favorite rounds. I load for it and have a case forming die to make cases from 30-06 cases.

[bedlamite]

That's one of those projects I'd watch the books on, just to see what you can do with it for as cheap as possible, like the 22 rifle I've got $27 into.

[Scorch]

Maybe a 35X57...

std7mag- that one's called 9X57mm, and it's a good one. I had a M98 in 9X57 years ago, it is a thumper. Lots of load data is toned down becasue of oldish rifles in that caliber, but newer 9.3X57 data can be used for stronger actions.

[bamaranger]

You actually TOLD your wife..........!!!???

[std7mag]

It was $65, not $1,000.
And she doesn't think about things like a new stock, barrel, trigger, bases, rings, scope.
To her it was $65 and that's the end of it...

[Ricklin]

Where does one find a.wife like.that. Mine watches the transactions.from her desk.when i travel.

[hdbiker]

I remember seeing a K98 mouser action only at a yard sale once. 35 bucks. looked pretty good but I passes and have been sorry ever sense. hdbiker

[sako2]

I was in the same situation yesterday. Got a unopened 8lbs of imr4895 for $75. 200 new pieces of 7mm08 Remington brass for $24.00. A box lot of brass that has 33 new pieces of norma 7mm08 brass and 24 1x fired 7mm08 norma brass and 22-250 brass, 243 brass, 308 brass, for $12.50. Federal 215m primers for $21 a 1000 and federal 210 primers for $22 a 1000.

[std7mag]

Well, so far my $65 rifle has added up somewhat...
I decided to go with 7X57 Mauser.
I got a Dakota safety for it. Based on the Win Model 70 safety. 3 position. $155.
I also got a Timney trigger without safety. $99.

Thanks to a lady smith on another forum i got a aluminium bottom metal assembly with a hinged floorplate. $74.

Next up is a barrel from E.R. Shaw followed by a Boyds Prairie Hunter stock.

[Scorch]

I decided to go with 7X57 Mauser.

You won't regret it. My first bolt action was a 7X57. I've had many others over the years, big bores, belted mags, you name it, but I always came back to the 7X57. It just woks.